FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- With a combined 166 years of service to the nation, five Soldiers and one civilian retired during the Fort Rucker Quarterly Retirement Ceremony July 30 in the U.S. Army Aviation Museum.
Col. Marcus A. Gengler, director of the Aviation Enablers Requirements Determination Directorate, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence, hosted the event and was assisted by Sgt. Maj. Derrick Quackenbush, sergeant major of Aviation Combat Development and Integration Directorate, USAACE.
Short write-ups on each retiree follow.
CW5 CHRISTOPHER L. HAYNES
Haynes, department head for the Joint, Interagency and Multinational Operations Department at the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Career College, entered military service in 1989 in the Marines as an ammunition technician. He joined the Army in 1997 and was selected for warrant officer training in 2002. He served three combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was issuing ammunition and explosives during his multiple combat tours to the warfighters defending freedom in the U.S. Central Command region. He and his spouse, Paige, have three children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
CW4 DONALD K. PROCTER
Proctor, tactical operations officer and instructor pilot with the 110th Aviation Brigade, entered military service in 1983 in the Navy as a jet mechanic. He transferred to the National Guard in 1987 and commissioned as a second lieutenant. He attended flight school in 1989. After 9-11, he resigned his commission and attended AH-64 Apache training as a warrant officer one. He served multiple combat tours in support of operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was when he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for exceptional heroism involving aerial flight while serving as an AH-64D gunner in support of an Italian and Afghan special forces combat assault, and search and seizure operation in 2010 in Afghanistan.
CW3 KENNETH S. HAY
Hay, standardization pilot for A Company, 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment, entered military service in 2001 as a multi-systems transmission operator. In 2009, he was selected for Army Warrant Officer Flight Training. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was being an air assault instructor pilot with the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade. He and his spouse, Goodnite, have three children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
CW3 CHRISTOPHER J. HEINIGER
Heiniger, instructor pilot course section leader with F Co., 1-212th Avn. Regt., entered military service in 1998 as a military police Soldier. He was selected for Army Warrant Officer Flight Training in 2010. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was serving as an air assault flight lead in Afghanistan. He and his spouse, Angelica, have two children. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
MASTER SGT. MARIO E. CEA
Cea, first sergeant for A Co., 1-145th Avn. Regt., entered military service in 2000 as an infantryman and later reenlisted as an AH-64D attack helicopter repairer. He served multiple combat tours in support of operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. He said the highlight of his career was marrying his beautiful wife, Carolina, and having a wonderful son. They plan to reside in Enterprise.
CAROLYN D. JEMISON
Jemison, security specialist with the Fort Rucker garrison, entered military service in 1989 as a commissary employee at Camp Pendleton, California. She said the highlight of her career was achieving supervisor status at the Security and Intelligence Division at Herlong, California. She and her husband, William Taylor, have been married for 43 years. They have three children, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. They plan to reside in Munford.
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